St. Joseph County leaders and land use expert’s host meeting in New Carlisle with focus on data centers

St. Joseph County leaders and land use experts convened a public meeting in New Carlisle on Tuesday to address a proposed data center project and challenge what they termed "misleading numbers" previously presented to the public. The discussion, hosted at the New Carlisle Olive Township Public Library, was led by St. Joseph County surveyor Derek Dieter, land use expert Steve Sass, and South Bend city councilman Oliver Davis. The organizers scrutinized figures from a December county council meeting that preceded a vote on a data center planned for Old Chicago Trail, a proposal which the council ultimately rejected. Speakers asserted that the public deserved more accurate information regarding the figures used in that debate. The meeting also featured a video highlighting environmental and community risks associated with data centers, followed by a Q&A session where residents voiced their concerns. Sass emphasized that community engagement fosters a stronger community capable of assisting elected officials in making informed decisions. Organizers stated their primary objective is transparency, ensuring residents have precise information for any forthcoming data center proposals.